Maggi Noodles back on shop shelves in India after lab tests clear popular instant noodle snack

FILE-This June 5, 2015 file photo shows packs of Nestle India's Maggi noodles being stored after they were removed from the shelves of a grocery store in Gauhati, India. Maggi noodles are back on shelves in India five months after the popular snack was found to contain lead above permissible limits.(AP Photo/Anupam Nath, file)
(The Associated Press)

NEW DELHI – Food and beverage giant Nestle says Maggi noodles are back on shelves in India five months after the popular snack was found to contain lead at levels above permissible limits.

The Indian unit of the Swiss food company said Monday that samples of newly made Maggi instant noodles had been cleared for consumption by three food-testing laboratories in India.

Maggi noodles would not be available in eight states that banned their sale. The company said it was in talks with local governments.

In June, India's Health Ministry ordered the removal of Maggi noodles from stores after safety tests by several states found high levels of lead. Nestle India challenged the accuracy of the tests.